9 to 5 Isn’t Just Dated as a Movie

The Information Age represents the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution. But despite the fact that family structures have changed dramatically since the early 1900s, the standard eight-hour workday remains entrenched. This article describes how the author’s company moved to a five-hour workday, with excellent results. As he explains, the five-hour day is about managing human energy more efficiently by working in bursts over a shorter period. Humans are not machines; just because a manager sees employees at their desk for eight hours doesn’t mean they are being productive. Having more time to pursue passions, nurture relationships and stay active also gives workers more energy emotionally and physically—which is why studies show that happiness improves productivity. Furthermore, a five-hour workday necessitates time management by forcing employees to prioritize high-value activities. The author of The Five-Hour Workday offers five tips on how to get started: 1. Read The 4-Hour Workweek by serial entrepreneur Timothy Ferriss, which discusses the 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle. 2. Shift to a production mindset, measuring work in output rather than hours. 3. Drop the “always available” attitude. 4. Use technology to boost efficiency. 5. Don’t restrict yourself to a 25-hour week.

• Work-life balance
• employee satisfaction
• productivity
• happiness